Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 6, 2006) Lou Rawls / R&B Icon

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Lou Rawls
December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006

lourawls

Lou Rawls was one of the most popular soul and jazz singers during the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Over the course of his career, he released over 70 albums and sold upwards of 40 million. Rawls’ career in music began as a teenager in Chicago where he and classmate, Sam Cooke performed in a local gospel group. Signed to Capitol Records in the early ’60s, Rawls kept a busy pace over the course of the next two decades, from opening for the Beatles in 1966 to co-hosting a television show in 1969 to singing a remarkable rendition of the National Anthem before the Muhammad Ali – Earnie Shavers fight of September 29, 1977. His most memorable hit was 1976’s “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” Lou Rawls passed away as a result of cancer at the age of 72.

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lou-rawls-music — Click to find at amazon.com

Americana Country Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 6, 2011) Gary Claxton / Heybale

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Gary Claxton
DOB Unknown – January 6, 2011

Gary Claxton was a respected Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter and guitarist. As part of alt-country band, Heybale he was a popular weekly draw at the city’s world-famous watering hole, The Continental Club for nearly a decade. That group also featured the great Redd Volkaert of Merle Haggard fame, and Ernie Poole Ball who played with Johnny Cash. Claxton was born in Oklahoma and eventually moved to Nashville after winning a songwriting contest. But he quickly became disillusion by the business that is country music, so he packed up and moved to Austin where his honky-tonk inspired sound fit more easily. He later met the great Tom Lewis who invited him to join Heybale. Either as part of Heybale or fronting groups made up of other local friends, he was always a crowd-pleaser thanks to his golden voice and his respect for traditional country music. Gary Claxton took his own life on January 6, 2011. He was 50 years old.

Musician Producer R&B Record Label Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 5, 2010) Willie Mitchell / Legendary Memphis Producer

themusicsover January 5, 2012 1 Comment

Willie Mitchell
March 23, 1928 – January 5, 2010

Willie Mitchell is best remembered as the esteemed producer who helped develop the Memphis soul sound of the ’60s and beyond. Mitchell learned to play the trumpet as a child and by the time he was in high school he was playing in local jazz bands. He soon formed his own band that reportedly performed at numerous New Years Eve parties at Elvis Presley’s home. He later went to work at Hi Records, first as a musician, then a producer, and ultimately running the company. It was under his watch that the label achieved its most success with releases by such legends as Bill Black, Al Green, Ann Peebles, and Mitchell himself. Willie Mitchell, age 81, died on January 5, 2010 as a result of cardiac arrest he suffered in December of 2009.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.

Musician Pop Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 5, 1998) Sonny Bono / Sonny & Cher

themusicsover January 5, 2012 1 Comment

Salvatore “Sonny” Bono
February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998

Sonny Bono was a successful singer, songwriter, producer and actor who came to the world’s attention in the mid ’60s when he partnered with his wife, Cher to form the singing and comic duo, Sonny & Cher. One of Bono’s first jobs in the music business was assisting producer, Phil Spector. He was also writing songs, penning such pop classics as “Things You Do To Me” (Sam Cooke), “Needle and Pins” (the Searchers, Jackie DeShannon, Tom Petty), and of course, “I Got You Babe,” “The Beat Goes On” and many more made famous by Sonny & Cher. In 1971, CBS debuted The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour which was a top 20 hit for its four-season run. Sonny and Cher split both professionally and personally in the mid ’70s, afterwhich Bono periodically made television guest star appearances into the ’90s. In 1988, Bono was elected mayor of Palm Springs, California, an office he held until 1992. By all accounts he did a great job and was very popular in the position. On January 5, 1998, Sonny Bono died of injuries he sustained from accidentally skiing into a tree at near Lake Tahoe.

What You Should Own

sonny-and-cher — Click to find at amazon.com

Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 4, 1986) Phil Lynott / Thin Lizzy

themusicsover January 4, 2012 No Comments

Phil Lynott
August 20, 1949 – January 4, 1986

Phil Lynott was the lead singer, bassist and primary songwriter for the popular ’70s Irish rock band, Thin Lizzy. Formed in 1969, the band gained international fame during the mid ’70s with such rock hits as “The Boys are Back in Town,” “Jailbreak,” and “Dancing in the Moonlight (It’s Caught Me in its Spotlight).” Their 1978 live album, Live and Dangerous sits alongside Frampton Comes Alive and Kiss Alive as one of the definitive albums of its generation and one of the best live rock albums of all time. Lynott released a handful of solo albums beginning in 1980, the best of which being Solo in Soho. Thin Lizzy called it quits in 1984. On Christmas Day, 1985, Lynott collapsed in his home, and was brought to an area hospital where it was discovered he was suffering from a kidney and liver infection, a result of his drug and alcohol abuse. He died while still in the hospital’s intensive care unit on two weeks later as a result of heart failure and pneumonia. Phil Lynott was 36 when he passed away on January 4, 1986.

Died On This Date (January 6, 2006) Lou Rawls / R&B Icon

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (January 6, 2011) Gary Claxton / Heybale

Died On This Date (January 5, 2010) Willie Mitchell / Legendary Memphis Producer

Died On This Date (January 5, 1998) Sonny Bono / Sonny & Cher

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (January 4, 1986) Phil Lynott / Thin Lizzy

What You Should Own

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